Using credit card reward cash

[Megkel]

My husband and I have 1 credit card. With the credit card we receive 2% cash back on all our purchases. When we first got the card my husband scoffed and didn't think 2% was all that great, would only be a drop in the bucket. I switched all our reoccurring bills (cell phone, cable, insurance) to the credit card and started using it for all our purchases. My thinking was that even $20 a month would give us extra Disney money. We have been saving for almost a year and now have $360saved as rewards cash!!! The best part is we haven't spent a penny in interest so pretty much free money!

I am planning the rewards cash for a big Disney Christmas and with hopes we can stay at the Contemporary Resort (pending AP or Military discount being offered).

Does anyone else save credit rewards or similar things they do to help save for Disney? I am curious if there is anything I hadn't realized that would be "free cash" for Disney!

 

[disneyfreakk]

YAY for free Disney money!!!

What CC are you using? 2% back on everything is really good!

 

[Megkel]

YAY for free Disney money!!!

What CC are you using? 2% back on everything is really good!

It's the green credit card offered through Navy Federal.

 

[jtopicz1]

OP, nice stats on the Credit Card. Too many people are afraid of Credit Cards, but if you play the game right, and responsibly, you can win! As long as you pay the bill off each month, and do not change your spending habits just to get points, it's free money.

For people who are uncomfortable with a CC, simply setup a foolproof system. Each time you use the credit card, put the money you just spent into an envelope or a seperate bank account. If you do not have the CASH, do not use the card. At the end of the month, take the money set aside and pay off the full bill.

We travel extensively for pleasure, and have been using the Continental Airline OnePass Mastercard. Yes, I pay an annual fee for that card, but I get free checked bags (that I would typically be paying for anyways) and points. Our typical spending pattern averages us 20-25K points per year, which works out to a free domestic RT flight each year. If we fly TPA-LAS, that flight could be worth over $500.

 

[lurkernj]

We don't use cash back, but we do have a continental airlines card that we charge everything on (and pay it off every month). It gives one airline mile for each dollar. We have had this card for over 15 years and have used our miles for 4 free round trip tickets to Hawaii about 5 years ago, and have 4 more round trips for Hawaii booked for this summer (2 of us also went to New orleans for free several years ago). There is a $65 fee for this card, but still, 16 years x $65 is $1040, 8 round trip tickets to Hawaii from the east coast is over $7000 (plus aout $500 for the New orleans tkts) and we still have over 100k miles left. We also get free baggage (1each) when flying continental.

I'm currently utilizing my Disney visa since I'm getting 3x rewards. We have accumulated about $700 over the last 3 years with this too.

Credit cards can be great if you use them wisely.

 

[lucigo]

It's the green credit card offered through Navy Federal.

According to the web site the green card gives you 1% for purchases up to 10K in a year and then 1.5% for purchases over 10K.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

We don't really have credit cards, but we do get rewards for using our debit card as a credit card. We were mostly using cash for groceries, etc. but then as our Disney trip was getting closer, we started using the debit (as credit) more often to accumulate points faster! It took us maybe about 9 months to accumulate enough to cash out $200!!

Look out for banks offering a reward for opening an account. We got $200 for opening a Capital One account with direct deposit. (DH has a second job, so we direct deposit that check and it's been our vacation account.) Capital One also has a free coin counter for account holders to use, which is great cuz we save change for Disney! We also just opened a Chase account for a $125 reward. No other requirements except opening the account and depositing $100. As soon as we get the $100, we will close that account. (I hate Chase.)

We are in a database for local company that does focus/research groups, and DH recently did one that paid $250. Granted, that's higher than most pay. And it's hard to qualify for them. I think DH has done maybe 3 and I've done like 2 over the past few years. Most pay $75-150 for about 2 hours.

I also do My Points, Sunshine Rewards and Swagbucks to earn gift cards to use on our trips. Right now I have about $140 in gift cards from My Points and Sunshine Rewards, plus a few other gift cards from other sources to use on our trip coming up in 12 days!! The swagbucks I cash out for Amazon GC, which we used to help pay for our GPS.

 

[disneychic2]

Yes, the key to this plan working is to pay it off each month. Some people just aren't disciplined enough to charge only what they can afford. DH and I just got a new card that pays 5% back on certain things (it changes each quarter). Right now it is on home improvement purchases (we're finishing our basement) and on home and garden. Next quarter it will be something else. All purchases get 1% meanwhile. So, we think it's a good deal. We never carry a balance. Also, we've been getting offers to apply for cc that credit you $100, $150 and even $200 just to make one purchase. So, I look at all of that as free money. Good for you for keeping that balance paid off! Keep it up and have a great trip!

 

[tlbwriter]

For people who are uncomfortable with a CC, simply setup a foolproof system. Each time you use the credit card, put the money you just spent into an envelope or a seperate bank account. If you do not have the CASH, do not use the card. At the end of the month, take the money set aside and pay off the full bill.

Or else pay the balance off every time you use the card - now that you can make payments online, there's no reason to wait until the end of the month unless your CC limits the number of payments during one payment period (I used to have one that did that, don't know if anyone still does).

 

[jtopicz1]

Tracy,

That's actually what I do on my Chase card (pay it off weekly), however some companies (Citi) limit the number of payments you can make

 

[lucigo]

My husband and I (and DS8) are going on a cruise this summer. We had $1400 worth of SeaMiles and before the trip I will cash in my Navy Fed'l points for spending money. I know people must wonder how we can afford such things LOL

 

[Marionnette]

We do the credit card rewards thing all of the time. Disney Visa cards for Disney trips. Southwest Visa for domestic airfare. Diners Club rewards for international travel. etc.

We also try to double up our rewards when we can by linking our shopper cards with Upromise and using our rewards credit cards for the purchases. Or using our frequent traveler cards for points towards a hotel stay and then combining it with a rewards card for payment. If we rent a car, we tie our car rental account with another rewards account such as SWA points for National car rentals using their free Emerald Club membership.

 

[Megkel]

According to the web site the green card gives you 1% for purchases up to 10K in a year and then 1.5% for purchases over 10K.

You are correct, sorry it's now 1% back. I think when we opened the card it was a promotion that you received 2% back for the first so many months. Man at 1% that is a ton of money we are spending!

 

[mafibisha]

YAY for free Disney money!!!

What CC are you using? 2% back on everything is really good!

It's the green credit card offered through Navy Federal.

Good for you! I've heard great things about that card!

And this is a great example of how we DON'T have to use the Disney Visa to be rewarded 'FOR' Disney!

It seems wayy too many people think the Disney Visa is the only way!

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I run everything through Discover, and I love the cash back thing!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Our grocery store offered twenty cents off a gallon of gas for every $50 spent. SO I bought $1000 worth of Disney GC to by our non expiring tickets.. I earned $1 off a gallon of gas good for up to 30 gallons. THen I bought the cards with my Disney rewards visa and earn $10 in rewards.